Photographic composition system

ABSTRACT

A photographic composition system having a pulsed light source that projects a beam of light through a font of characters to produce an image which is cast onto a sheet of film that is advanced by motor means. The controls for activating the motor provide for correct spacing between successive characters and are connected to a memory system which receives data input.

United States Patent Sinnott et al.

[451 Nov. 7, 1972 [54] PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSITION SYSTEM [72] Inventors: David J. Sinnott, Ringwood; Donald E. Alecci, Pine Brook, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Star-New Era, Inc., South l-lackensack, NJ.

[22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 3,718 7 s2 Us. Cl. ..9s/4.s

[51] int. Cl. ..B41b 15/08 [58] Field of Search ..95/4.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,846,932 8/1958 Hooven ..95/4.5

Gewaqcrse +11:

3,496,847 2/1970 Levine as/4.5 2,663,232 12 1953 Drillick ..9s/4.s

Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Attorney-Norman N. Holland [5 7] ABSTRACT A photographic composition system having a pulsed light source that projects a beam of light through a font of characters to produce an image which is cast onto a sheet of film that is advanced by motor means. The controls for activating the motor provide for correct spacing between successive characters and are connected to a memory system which-receives data input.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEOuuv 7 I912 v. KUw

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INVENTORS of printed matter, particularly to an improved phototype composition and type preparation system and mechanism for the preparation of proof copy and printing plates for-offset, letter and lithographicpresses. Such equipment operates by taking a punched tape input, which may be prepared on any tape perforator now commonly used, and converting the data into a photocomposition which is fully justified.

The present invention is an improvement of the mechanism disclosed in copending US. application Ser.No'. 825,692, filed on May 19, 1969. That application discloses a photocomposition system that utilizes a revolving font and rotating mirror arrangement to produce lines of type which are fully justified.

The present invention is an improvement over that apparatus wherein the rotating mirror has; been eliminated. Such a device gives a more simple apparatus while still insuring rapid and accurate photocomposition. In applicants improved photocomposition system a pulsed light beam is projected through a revolving drum containing character masks and the produced image is castonto a sensitive. sheet. The sheet is advanced in predetermined increments to insure correct spacing between respective character images to form a justified'line. The other objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referre'dto herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employ-- ment of the invention in practice. l

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and descriptio'nan'd is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification wherein: e The FIGURE in the drawing is a schematic illustration of the composition mechanism of the present invention.

As seen in the drawings, a source of light 1 is powered by a power supply 3 to create an intense, short burst of light 17 at a wave length most suited for the light sensitive material or film 16 being used. The source of light 1 may be any high intensity coherent light source which gives a monochromatic beam, such as a laser or azeon flash tube. Of course, other light sources may also be used if desired.

The light beam 17 passes through amodulator2 which controls and monitors the light intensity. The modulator 2 comprises a beam splitter 2a which splits the beam 17. A portion of the light 17a is deflected to a photo diode and amplifier light intensity assembly 21; and the remainder of the light beam 17 continues through the beam splitter 2a to a character font asyt j The photo diode assembly 2b samples the light intensity of the beam 17a and compares the actual intensity with a desired predetermined value thereof to therebyv control the light power supply 3. If the intensity is greater or less than the desired amount, the diode intensity control assembly 2b directs the power supply 3 to adjust the intensity to acceptable levels.

V The portion of light beam 17 which passes through splitter 2a is directed to a continuously rotating font drum assembly 4 which is driven by motor 19. The drum assembly 4 comprisesja mask 40 which ca'rries a plurality or transparent characters 4e. When the light beam 17 is generated, as explained in greater detail hereinafter, it is directed to a reflecting mechanism,

which in the drawingsis shown as being a penta reflector. It is then reflected and directed through a selected character 4e to direct the image 17b of that character to alens system 8. g

The lens system casts the character image onto photosensitive film 16, and the film is moved by motor means 10a predetermined increment so that the correct'spacing is attained between the various images of the characters projected'onto the film. A single line of justified character images is easily formed in this manner. Another line is begun after. spacing by the character width and spacing electronics 14. The film then passes through a developer 23 and each line is then cut from other lines by a cutting mechanism (not shown) into strips for future use and assembly.

The mechanism for generating'the light means'comprises a. plurality of co uritinggate openings 18 above" the bank of characters 4e on the rotating drum 4c.,One gate opening 18 is mounted above each'character 4e.

The drum 4c is provided'with a light source 40 adapted to project lightthrough each gate 18 as the gate 'l8- passes thereby. The light is directed onto a control photo diode 5. When the photo diode 5 is activated a pulse is generated which is fed into a counter' mechanism 6. The output of this counter 6 is fed to a pulse mechanism 7 (which is connected to the light power supply 3) and represents one of the conditions of the pulse A tape reader 12-is adapted to sense code combinations on a tape 22 and transfer them to an electronic computer and memory 21 which has predetermined character and line data therein. The output of the memory 21 is fed to a one line memory 13, which ;applied a particular number count to each character. The count is transferred to the pulse mechanism 7 and when the count of a particular character is reached by the counter 6 it coincides with the count from the memory 13 to satisfy conditions of the pulse mechanism 7.

A pulse is then sent to the light powered supply 3 and "to the character width and spacing electronics 14.

the desired character image on the film.

lt will thus seenthat the present invention provides an improved simplified photocomposing machine which will prepare a more rapid typesetting copy and film for preparation of printing plates at speeds which are compatible with present day requirements. The system provides 'a completely justified line of film rapidly and accurately. e r e As various changes may be made in the form, construc tion and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim: v I

l. A photocomposing mechanism comprising means for reading impulses from a character data carrier; count storage means independent of said character data carrier having information representing each character by a predetermined count; a light source; a drum having a font of transparent characters on its periphery; means for continuously rotating said drum; a beam divertor mounted within said drum; means for counting the number of characters on said drum passing a predetermined point; means for detecting coincidence between the number of characters passing said point and the predetermined count of the character read by the reading means; means operable by said coincidence to activate said light source to generate a light beam; said light beam being projected within said drum and against said divertor to redirect it and cause it to pass through the selected character in the font to form an image of the character; means for directing the image of each character onto a photo-sensitive sheet; width storage means independent of said character data carrier and independent of said fon't having the width characteristics of each character; means for moving said photo-sensitive sheet in the same direction as the rotation of the drum and perpendicular to the light beam passing through the font on the drum; means for maintaining said photo-sensitive, sheet stationary until a character has been impressed on said sheet; means for moving the photo-sensitive sheet in said direction when a character has been impressed on it; means responsive to width characteristics in said width storagemeans for moving the photo-sensitive sheet a predetermined distance whereby the image of each .characterwili be impressed in a single line parallel to the path of movement of said sheet on said photo-sensitive sheet in accurately spaced relationship to eachother; inhibit means to inhibit the pulsing of the light beam until the photo-sensitive sheet is in proper position; means for removing the inhibit when the photo-sensitive sheet is in position; said counting means comprising an opening adjacent each transparent character; a light source within the drum and directing a light ray through said opening and a lightsensitive count sensor adapted to receive said light ray; and a lens system between the film and said drum.

2. A mechanism asclaimed in claim 1, wherein.

means are provided for adjusting the intensity of said light.

3. A mechanism as claimedin claim 2, wherein said adjusting means comprises a beam splitter which directs a portion of said generated beam to an intensity measuring device for controlling the intensity of the light source.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reflector in the drum is a penta reflector.

5. A mechanism as claimedin claim 4, wherein the photosensitive sheet is advanced after each line is completed. 

1. A photocomposing mechanism comprising means for reading impulses from a character data carrier; count storage means independent of said character data carrier having information representing each character by a predetermined count; a light source; a drum having a font of transparent characters on its periphery; means for continuouSly rotating said drum; a beam divertor mounted within said drum; means for counting the number of characters on said drum passing a predetermined point; means for detecting coincidence between the number of characters passing said point and the predetermined count of the character read by the reading means; means operable by said coincidence to activate said light source to generate a light beam; said light beam being projected within said drum and against said divertor to redirect it and cause it to pass through the selected character in the font to form an image of the character; means for directing the image of each character onto a photo-sensitive sheet; width storage means independent of said character data carrier and independent of said font having the width characteristics of each character; means for moving said photosensitive sheet in the same direction as the rotation of the drum and perpendicular to the light beam passing through the font on the drum; means for maintaining said photo-sensitive sheet stationary until a character has been impressed on said sheet; means for moving the photo-sensitive sheet in said direction when a character has been impressed on it; means responsive to width characteristics in said width storage means for moving the photosensitive sheet a predetermined distance whereby the image of each character will be impressed in a single line parallel to the path of movement of said sheet on said photo-sensitive sheet in accurately spaced relationship to each other; inhibit means to inhibit the pulsing of the light beam until the photo-sensitive sheet is in proper position; means for removing the inhibit when the photo-sensitive sheet is in position; said counting means comprising an opening adjacent each transparent character; a light source within the drum and directing a light ray through said opening and a light-sensitive count sensor adapted to receive said light ray; and a lens system between the film and said drum.
 2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for adjusting the intensity of said light.
 3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adjusting means comprises a beam splitter which directs a portion of said generated beam to an intensity measuring device for controlling the intensity of the light source.
 4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reflector in the drum is a penta reflector.
 5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the photosensitive sheet is advanced after each line is completed. 